Recognizing Unstated Assumptions Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Recognizing Unstated Assumptions Questions and Answers flashcards as text
Argument: 'This medication has been approved by the regulatory authority, so it is safe to take.' What is the key unstated assumption?
Answer: Regulatory approval guarantees that the medication is safe for all people in all circumstances.
The argument assumes that regulatory approval equals comprehensive safety, when approvals are based on benefit-risk balance for specific populations and do not guarantee absence of side effects for all individuals.
Argument: 'Since Andrea speaks three languages fluently, she will be an excellent translator.' What unstated assumption is the argument making?
Answer: Speaking multiple languages fluently is sufficient to be an excellent translator.
Translation requires not just language fluency but also subject knowledge, nuanced cultural understanding, and specialized skills not implied by speaking multiple languages.
Argument: 'The new park reduced noise complaints in the neighborhood, so it must have reduced noise levels.' What unstated assumption is this making?
Answer: Residents report noise complaints in proportion to actual noise levels they experience.
Complaint rates may fall for reasons other than reduced noise — residents may have given up complaining, moved away, or become habituated to noise levels that haven't actually changed.
Argument: 'Lowering interest rates will stimulate the economy by encouraging businesses to borrow and invest.' What is the key unstated assumption?
Answer: Businesses are currently not investing because borrowing costs are too high, and lower rates will change this decision.
The argument assumes that borrowing cost is the binding constraint on business investment — if businesses aren't investing due to demand uncertainty or poor profit prospects, lower rates may not stimulate investment.
Argument: 'If you want to be healthy, you should follow this celebrity's diet plan.' What unstated assumption is the argument making?
Answer: The diet plan that works for this celebrity will produce similar health results for others.
The argument assumes that what produces health outcomes for this celebrity's body, lifestyle, and metabolism will generalize to others — ignoring individual variation in metabolism, health conditions, and activity levels.
Argument: 'This country needs more hospitals because its population has grown significantly over the last decade.' What unstated assumption is this making?
Answer: The existing hospital capacity was sufficient for the previous population size but is now insufficient for the larger population.
The argument assumes that existing hospital capacity matched previous needs and that the population increase has created a shortfall — if hospitals were already over-capacity or under-capacity previously, the argument changes.